Professor Val Curran

Enhancing our understanding of the neurochemistry of memory, cognition and emotional processing.

Differentiating the actions of different cannabinoids on schizotypal symptoms, cognition and addiction-related processes.

Exploring pharmacological models of psychotic symptoms such as delusions using ketamine and cannabinoids in both challenge studies (acute administration to healthy volunteers) and natural populations of chronic users of these substances.

Determining the short- and long-term effects of 'recreational' drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), cannabis, stimulants & ketamine on cognition, emotion and the brain.

Understanding how opiates prescribed for pain affect patients’ cognition and emotional processing, including the perception of pain-related stimuli.

Elucidating the processes involved in the transition from drug use to drug addiction.